So You've Been Told You Have a Blighted Ovum

A blighted ovum can be difficult to diagnose, so don't hesitate to seek a second opinion before terminating your pregnancy after being diagnosed. | Source

I am often asked questions about the diagnosis of a blighted ovum because of my own misdiagnosed blighted ovum story.

Six years ago, when facing my own diagnosis, there was virtually no information on misdiagnosed miscarriages online. In fact, women on miscarriage sites told me, kindly, to just have the D&C and move on.

Thankfully, I did not listen, and my daughter is here today.

You may or may not have that happy ending. Unfortunately, time is the only true test of a blighted ovum. I'd like to share some of what I've learned so far, so that you can make an informed decision on how and when to end your pregnancy, or whether it needs to be ended at all.

I believe every woman deserves to not have any doubts before ending her pregnancy.

I am not a medical professional. The information I share here is not meant to replace the information given to you by your doctor. If you feel your doctor is not doing enough for you or is not willing to listen to your concerns, I strongly encourage you to get a second opinion.

What Is a Blighted Ovum?

Let's start with the basics. A blighted ovum is an egg that is fertilized but does not develop after implantation. Your doctor may also refer to this as an anembryonic or empty sac pregnancy.

Let's move on to how a blighted ovum is diagnosed.

If you are able to see a yolk sac during the ultrasound, you do not have a blighted ovum. A baby is needed for the yolk sac to appear. That does not mean the pregnancy will not end in miscarriage, it just means you do not have a blighted ovum.

How a Blighted Ovum Is Diagnosed

Note: Please read through this entire section because the criteria given to doctors for diagnosing a blighted ovum is not always correct, and mistakes are frequently made.

Unfortunately, many doctors make the diagnosis too early. In a nutshell, a physician will often diagnose a blighted ovum when the gestational sac is empty. Some women have said they were diagnosed as early as five weeks.

According to the Encyclopedia of Medical Imaging, the criteria for a diagnosis of a blighted ovum are:

Failure to identify an embryo in a gestational sac measuring approximately 18 mm or more via transvaginal ultrasound.

Failure to identify a yolk sac in a gestational sac measuring 13 mm or more.

This is the criteria many doctors use when making the diagnosis of a blighted ovum. Fortunately, there is still hope even when these "benchmarks" are not met.

How Do You Know If This Is Truly a Blighted Ovum?

Unfortunately, the only true way to test for a blighted ovum is time. If you've been told a baby is always seen by seven or eight weeks, you've been misinformed. Many women with gestational sacs measuring bigger than the 20 mm find their babies after eight weeks.

The UK is the first to acknowledge that misdiagnosed miscarriages are indeed a problem. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have revised their guidelines. If your gestational sac is more than 25 mm and/or the CRL is 7 mm or more, you should wait a week to verify, if there are no complications. If the measurements are less, you are too early to diagnose.

The vast majority of women who find their babies after eight weeks have a tilted uterus. Although some women who have an anteverted uterus (normal position) have found their babies later as well.

Does a Tilted Uterus Matter?

First things first, if you are being diagnosed with a blighted ovum before nine weeks, it is too early to know with certainty that it is indeed a blighted ovum. If you do not know if you have a tilted uterus, you need to ask your doctor because that should be verified before making a diagnosis.

After nine weeks, some women have reported finding their babies. Although most women see their babies by nine weeks, some women have been further along. We don't know the explanation as to why it takes so long to view some babies, but it does happen.

Also, do not be worried if you are told you look one to two weeks behind. Many women with a tilted uterus look one to two weeks behind even if they are certain of their conception date. In fact, many women are misdiagnosed after IVF for this very reason. Once these women hit the second trimester, and their uterus is no longer retroverted, their dates line up.

How Do You Know When to End the Pregnancy?

If you would rather have a medical miscarriage, called a dilation and curettage (D&C), than a natural miscarriage, that is your right. Many doctors still encourage a natural miscarriage up to ten weeks. After ten weeks, even if you decide to have a natural miscarriage, you are more likely to need a D&C due to complications.

Low hCG Levels

Keep in mind that hCG levels start to slow down and plateau or even decline after seven or eight weeks of pregnancy. So hCG monitoring is not an accurate way to determine if this is a blighted ovum. However, if you are monitoring your hCG levels and they are significantly dropping, then you know your body is probably preparing for miscarriage.

Spotting or Bleeding

Bleeding is also not a very reliable sign of a blighted ovum. As many as one in three women will spot or bleed during their pregnancies.

Over Ten Weeks

If you get to ten weeks and are certain of your conception date, and there is still no baby found on the ultrasound (performed by a trained technician), you can be reasonably certain that you have a blighted ovum. Some women have found their babies later, and while they are the exception to the rule, this may be something you want to consider.

What it boils down to is that you shouldn't be pressured into a D&C too early. You can wait out a diagnosis. If you discuss the signs of infection with your physician and stay monitored, you can choose to wait. Some women only wait a week or so, and others end up waiting four weeks or more. The waiting is miserable, but it is the only way to know for sure what is happening.

Many women find their babies after eight or nine weeks. If you are being diagnosed before nine weeks, you have a greater risk of being misdiagnosed.

What Are Your Options After Being Diagnosed?

If you still have hope that this might be a viable pregnancy, there are a few things you can do.

Ask to have your hCG levels monitored. As stated before, hCG levels are not reliable after about seven weeks because they slow down and begin to plateau. However, if your levels are really low, or if you see that your numbers are dropping significantly, then it may end in miscarriage. I've talked to women whose numbers began plateauing at around 30,000 with no baby seen. They turned down their D&C and continued on with a viable pregnancy. That does happen.

Make certain your ultrasounds are done by fully-trained ultrasound technicians. Recent studies have shown that physicians tend to make mistakes when it comes to ultrasounds because they only have cursory training with the equipment and may not use it properly. If you are pregnant, your baby may be at risk from improper use. Don't be afraid to ask to have your ultrasounds done by a fully-trained technician.

You can decline to have the D&C. According to the Journal of Family Practice and other medical organizations, a woman can safely wait to miscarry naturally if she:

does not have a fever,

has stable vital signs,

has no excessive pain, and

has no excessive bleeding.

Also, if you are ten weeks or less, many doctors encourage waiting for a natural miscarriage.

When Should I Get a Second Opinion?

If you feel pressured to end your pregnancy before you are certain it is going to end in miscarriage and there are no complications, get a second opinion. Some women have told me they've even gotten third or fourth opinions before finding their babies!

I think a second opinion is only necessary if your doctor does not want you to wait and there are no complications. As I stated before, time is the only true test for a blighted ovum. If a trained technician in the first office does not see your baby, chances are a trained technician in the second office will not see your baby either. They'll have to wait until you are far enough along.

It is crucial to have a physician who will listen to your concerns and not rush a D&C. Having a doctor who is compassionate and understanding is incredibly helpful when going through this stressful and uncertain time.

Reach out to friends and loved ones. | Source

Find the Support You Need

This may be one of the loneliest and most miserable times you will go through. Honestly, the waiting is awful, and the only thing that helps is knowing you are not alone and that you have support.

Open up to close family and friends to help you through this time. There are also support groups and online forums that can be helpful. Many women join an online support group, like the Misdiagnosed Miscarriage forum, because finding a community of other women experiencing this, or who have experienced it in the past, is priceless and helps you feel less alone.

Have I left anything out? Can you think of anything I can add to make this article more useful? Do you just need somebody to listen? Please, leave a comment below. If you are someone who isn't comfortable posting in public forums, please feel free to reach out to me personally through my profile. I would be honored to help you. Really though, just having somebody who will listen and be supportive is the best way to get through this.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Questions & Answers

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Beatrice

7 months ago

I took my first scan and it showed I was eight weeks with no embryo no yolk sac no collection of fluid noted but I was giving my due date and I was told I had blighted ovum but I went to take another scan the following day at a different hospital and I was told I was seven weeks and some days gone but liquor volume is adequate with regular thick walled intrauterine gestational sad with yolk sac. But no embryonic activity seen so I should repeat scan in one week. Am really worried.

AUTHOR

Kay

4 years ago

Having that next ultrasound is your best bet. That way you can see if the sac is growing. If it is more than 25mm and empty, then you likely have your answer. But, based on your last measurement, you should be just about 25mm and, if so, you'll need to decide what to do. (((hugs)))

Gastemia

4 years ago

Hi, I am sharing my current story in hopes of some kind of reassurance.

I went to my first transvaginal scan at 8 weeks. It took the doctor 10 secs to tell me I had a blighted ovum. No blood taken, no questions asked, nothing. She immediately prescribed me some pills to take and have an abortion. After that, she took a blood sample. The next day I called to get my blood results, in which the first thing she asked when I called was if I had taken the pills she prescribed. I told her NO. And I'm calling to get my blood results as I want a second opinion. She gave me my results.. my hcg levels were 73,000, that's it. No other results. I called a different doctor, and scheduled an appointment 4 days later. This new doctor is the sweetest doctor! She performed another transvaginal scan which showed my gestational sac of 6 weeks, but empty. No fetal pole.. My hcg levels are 62,000 with a 13.1 progesterone and Gestational sac of 17.5 mm. According to my LDP I should be 9 weeks. She recomended another scan in a week. I have NOT bled or are cramping at all. But my pregnancy signs have been diminishing. My boobs don't hurt anymore and I haven't been that hungry. I blame it on the depression and stress I'm going through. I want to keep my hopes up, since I'm not bleeding...yet... any hope??

Erica Rollins

4 years ago

Hello everyone,

I am 7 weeks pregnant and have had some spotting here and there with this pregnancy. I went to the hospital yesterday and they did a transvaginal ultrasound that placed me at 7wks 2days. We saw a gestational sac, a yolk sac measuring 1.7cm but no fetal pole... my HCG levels are still rising as normal, but the doc is saying if my yolk sac reaches 1.8cm with no fetal pole in sight, that I will be diagnosed with blighted ovum. I've read any and every site online about blighted ovums and I truly appreciate all of you women who took the time to share your stories with me! I desperately want my baby, and this news has shattered my world, but reading your stories give me hope. Any advice would be much appreciated being that no one around me knows anything about a blighted ovum. I just continue to pray and ask God to give me a heart that praises him no matter what. I have a doctor appointment today just so my doc can tell me the same thing the hospital doc told me about the blighted ovum I assume. Hes going to schedule one more follow up ultrasound to see if we can see a fetal pole and hear hb... please pray for me ladies as I am praying for all of you. God bless

msred

4 years ago

Hiim 7 weeks pregnant with no fetus and only a yolk sac

AUTHOR

Kay

4 years ago

I am sorry you are going through this scare. The good news is that generally one week after the yolk sac is seen, the baby will be seen if the pregnancy is viable. Make sure you have an ultrasound tech do your ultrasound and not the doctor. (((hugs))) and keep us updated.

Amanda

4 years ago

I am going through a lot of the same simi pregnancy issues. I went to my doctors 2 weeks ago my ultrasound said that I was 5 weeks and 4 days along. I went to my appointment yesterday and my ultrasound measured 5 weeks and 5 days. She has me come back today my shaft measures 6 weeks 2 days with a yolk sac. But there's no baby and there's no heartbeat. I'm really worried I just had a miscarriage at the end of last year but it was nothing like this pregnancy. I have a5 year old son and the pregnancy with him was nothing like this one. I am lost for words and don't know what to think right now :-(

AUTHOR

Kay

5 years ago

If there are no complications, you might want to schedule an ultrasound a week out to make sure there is no growth and no baby. (((hugs)))

Robin marr

5 years ago

I went for my 9 week prenatal appointment and ultrasound and was told I had a blighted ovum. I have had no miscarriage symptoms and still feel pregnant. I'm not sure what to think of this diagnosis.

anonymous

7 years ago

Hello I just went today to have my first ultrasound they said I'm less then 6 weeks pregnant. When the did the vaginal ultrasound procedure the seen a sac with no baby me having 2 kids I was crushed when they told me that and all my hope and excitement was lost they had me give blood to check my hormone level and I have to go back for 2 more days to keep checking just a little nervous but after reading this I have a little hope.

anonymous

7 years ago

Hi I should be about 8weeks went last month to the doctors baby was visible with yolk sack. Yesterday i was told the yolk sack grew but not the baby its measuring very small. I have a DC scheduled Monday Nov. 12 not sure what to do.

anonymous

7 years ago

hi kay,i went for my first u/s last week when i was 8.1 weeks. i was very sad to hear that i had an empty sac with no embryo that could be spotted. i have had no signs of bleeding or miscarriage, the doctor told me that it would proberly happen naturally. i have booked another u/s for two weeks from now, and after reading the stories on your page i am trying to be really positive about it but it is really hard. just wondering how long you think to wait is too long, if i am going to miscarry is it likely to happen soon or could it take months. thanks niki

anonymous

7 years ago

Hi Kay,I just wanted to say thanks so much for this post - it has all the information I was looking for in one place! I went for an early US a couple days ago after having spotting for a few days. I have a tilted uterus and was told I look more like 5/6 weeks when I thought I was closer to 7 and a half. I have a gestational sac and a yolk sac and the doc saw a dot which she said could be the baby but have to go back in a week. I think doctors are too scared to interpret anything they see for fear of a comeback if they're wrong. While I understand this, it makes it really difficult for women going through early pregnancy as they're often not given enough information or given a very negative view of what might happen so the doctor feels "covered".It's going to be a torturous week wait but your page has really helped - thank you!!

anonymous

7 years ago

@anonymous: I am very sorry, I am going to the same problem with you, I think you should change your doctor and have a new one for your own good.

anonymous

7 years ago

@anonymous: I am very sorry, I am going to the same problem with you, I think you should change your doctor and have a new one for your own good.

anonymous

8 years ago

hi i have had a blighted ovum miscarrige 3 yrs after my first child. then i had a healthy baby girl in may 2011 but now i am pregnant. my husband an i were not trying for this pregnancy so i had no i idea i was prego. i paid much attention to my perido date cuz they are mostly on time, so when my doc tor tells me i am about 8wks i have my doubts. today when i visted my doctor she says there is no baby. i am not sure if i would believe i have a blighted ovum or not, cuz i feel very slight sickness and brest tenderness where as with the first B/O i felt the same way. my pregnancys are very hard when it come to the sickness..(been to er for dehyradtion because of throwing up so much) so what do u think is there chance of blighted ovum even after a healty pregnancy?

anonymous

8 years ago

im 6week 6days pregnent with my 2nd baby, i was told after 2 us tht m hvng blighted ovum, so my dr planned out d&amp;c today at 7w2d. Bt now after reading u , i dnt want to go hosp. Will wait till 10weeks or for natural miscarrige

anonymous

8 years ago

I am very unsure of my conception date although my doctor was very rude and yelled at me for the last day of my last period and I estimated a date that could be completely wrong. So I am 12 weeks (so we think due to my awful estimating) my gestanional sac is 23 mm and a yolk sac is visible. Although there is no fetal pole visible.. Please help my doctor is extrememly unhelpful she has been from the begginging and I am going to get a second opinion. If my gestantional sac is 23mm is it okay for a fetal pole not to be visible yet? I have had no bleeding or pain although my breasts are no longer tender and sore. Some advice would be great because I would hate to get a d &amp; c if I could possibly have a baby appear in a matter of weeks. I am concerned about the size of the gestantional sac. I dont know anything about this i am researching as much as I can. Please help.

anonymous

8 years ago

@MommyMvdM: Hello need to tell me what ate ur hcg levels I waited it out because I though if my hcg levels were raising then they had to be wrong I had to have a baby in there if ur levels of hcg are over 16000 with no fetus jut a sac then there never will be one as hard as thy is to hear trust me I know on Thursday the 13 of October 2011 I just had to have a d&amp;c it is so hard to say yes to have them take out ur sac because u want to have a baby trust me I know but I waited till I was 10 weeks and 2 days before I went infor my D&amp;C I let my hcg levels raise to 75000 which was why I had to have a d&amp;c because my placenta got to big for them to let me miscarry so I had no choice so if u levels r above why u said and still no baby let them help u get rid of the sac sooner u let them do it the fast u get to recover and sooner u get to try again

MommyMvdM

8 years ago

@anonymous: I already have a beautiful daughter whose heartbeat we saw at 7 weeks and 3 days. I went for an ultrasound with this pregnancy at 7 weeks 4 days and the dr told me that she doesn't have good news as she can't find a fetus or a heartbeat but there's a yolk sac and the gestational sac measures at 7 weeks as well? Should I wait it out? I'm really worried as we saw my daughter and her heartbeat at 7 weeks and 3 days?

anonymous

8 years ago

i am 8 weeks pregnant today and have been told all i have is an empty sac they want me to have a d&amp;c on monday but i really want to wait my hcg is rising normaly they r now at 32000 but still no baby or yock sac should i still wait

anonymous

9 years ago

Hi, I'm Amber and a few weeks ago I found out I was pregnant. I ended up going to the ER cause of cramping and they told me I could be having an ectopic pregnancy or it was just to early to tell. My hcg levels were around 2300 and only went to 2700 a couple days later when i went to my obgyn for a follow up.. She had an u/s done and there was still nothing to be seen. She told me I could be having a blighted ovum. When I got more blood work done they went to 4100 and my sac got larger but still nothing in the sac. I'm supposed to be 8 weeks 4 days from my last period and shes gonna give me one more week to get blood work done and another u/s, but said I'll prolly have to have a d&amp;c the next day after my appt. I've read how peoples hcg levels slowly rise and they have a healthy baby. This is my first pregnancy and I'm getting myself prepared for the d&amp;c but reading about everyone else makes me want to wait. What do you think I should do?

anonymous

9 years ago

Your information is wonderful and w/out bias which I appreciate. The run around is getting old, I just needed the facts. I would love to be able to chat w/ you. My hormones are going up but each u/s has been more devastating than the last. I can't get that image out of my head. I almost gave up b/c this is so difficult. I'm glad I didn't. Last time they gave my options. My hcg was 8800.. they told me to go in and get another test. I waited and finally did b/c they told me to expect the results to have dropped. When I heard the number 17,000.. all I could think is what is going on here? Altho I'm not far along, I have had weekly u/s and hcg taken every other day. So this has been going on awhile. I was supposed to be about 6 or so weeks. My uterus is tilted to the back. No pain, no bleeding, no spotting... So by nine weeks I should be able to see something? Thanks again for the info. It is desperately needed as you mentioned.

anonymous

9 years ago

@anonymous: Ashley,Please feel free to email me directly. I can answer anything you may want to ask. I was only 28, when they diagnosed me. It is a horrific thing to have to go through. I am here for you, I wish I had someone there for me when I went through it. That is one main reason I am still active in this thread. Cause it is an awful thing to have to go through. I will keep you in my prayers.

anonymous

9 years ago

Thank you Mary,I have talked to my fiance about what I have read here and we plan on reading more when he gets off work today, but I think we will wait for a D&amp;C I am just having a hard time it being my third pregnancy and still no baby I just feel like giving up! I am only 24yrs old and afraid we will never have a family like we've wanted! The hardest part is going through all the pregnancy symptoms, but be told a baby will not be there in the end...But thank you for the support!

anonymous

9 years ago

Ashley,I am the one who started this thread. Please Please wait. If you still feel pregnant than wait. I am living proof that modern medicine has its faults, and people can be careless. I have a happy healthy 10 month little boy because I trusted my instincts. Wait a few weeks, and have another ultrasound. Also have them test your hormone levels once a week. I am so sorry you are going through this. I know how it feels, helpless. Please email me if you have anymore questions. MaryMorse951@gmail.com

anonymous

9 years ago

Hi I have been diagnosed with a blighted ovum at 6.6 my doc wants to do another u/s at 7.6 and then schedule a d/c, but I'm afraid to. I am still having am sickness, tender breasts, and I am always tired and urinating! How long should I wait?? This is my 3rd preg my 1st I got a d/c b/c misscarrige at 8.5 the 2nd a fallopian tube hade to be removed due to tubal pregafter reading I have a little hope and afraid to rush but I am ready to deal with my3rd loss

dermatologist

9 years ago

This is very good information, but you didn't write nothing about ultrasound technician salary. For more information about ultrasound technician salary visit siteultrasound technician salary

anonymous

10 years ago

This is great that you are doing this, but I feel horrible. 14 almost 15 years ago I was told I had a blighted ovum. I had a D&amp;C, now this makes me wonder if maybe I didn't have a blighted ovum! I am very pro-life, so this makes me very sad. I grieved so much for that lost child.

anonymous

10 years ago

I was diagnosed with a blighted ovum in July of 2009. I am here to tell you, if your doctor diagnoses you... WAIT IT OUT! I am currently 8.5 month pregnant. If I had listened to the doctor and chose an alternative route I would have given up my baby. I have had a totally healthy pregnancy because I chose to wait another week, at my final appointment when they were supposed to tell me my "options", the doctor still could not find the fetus, but at the very LAST second found a pulsation in the very back. This proved to later on be the heartbeat. Doctors can be careless, and can be wrong. So take my advice, and ride it out!

anonymous

10 years ago

I was told I had a blighted ovum and that I should schedule a D &amp; C. The transvaginal was done in the office by the doctor and he said that I could come back later in the week to check again but most likely that was what it was. Two days later I went back to have a "real" sonogram done by a tech with more high tech machine and long behold there was the yolk sac with the tiny baby and a little "blip" of a heartbeat. Thank god I got the real sonogram done. Beware that some of the older ultrasound machines don't pick up fine detail and if the person doing the ultrasound (even the doctor) doesn't know what they are doing you can have a misread. The details are so tiny early on you need proper machine to pick that up. Even when the tech did the ultrasound in one angle there was nothing and in another angle there was everything! Always make sure you have an official ultrasound done...............I'm so glad that I did!!

anonymous

10 years ago

[in reply to Wendy N] If anybody has any advise please email me wn1127@hotmail.comthanks for your website--i understand more what i've been told, but still terrified and super stressed.

anonymous

10 years ago

I had my 1st us on October 1st. According to the calculator I should have been around 9 weeks. They found the sac but said it was empty and said I would miscarry in 2 weeks. They never told me what it measured or did any other tests. I waited 2 weeks and went to another Dr for a second opinion. The Dr confirmed that I had a blighted ovum and said I would miscarry in another 2 weeks. The sac measured around 8 weeks. The only test they did was a urine test that showed that I was still pregnant. It has been a week since then and I still feel very pregnant. I have had no cramping or bleeding but just this weekend I started getting a brown discharge. My sister was 8 weeks when she started spotting with her 1st preg. When at hospital the dr said she had a blighted ovum and almost insisted on dc. She went back 10 days later and they found the baby. My mom was also told they could not find the baby with her 1st pregnancy and went on to have her. We all have a tilted uterus. ??

anonymous

11 years ago

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 8 week checkup (according to my last period on March 5) &amp; an u/s was performed. The sac was empty. The doctor said I may have a blighted ovum. Blood was taken to check my hcg levels and I go back again tomorrow. I'm happy to have found this website, it gives me hope. With my second pregnancy I was diagnosed with twin blighted ovums and had a D&amp;C. If I would have known what I know now I would have waited for nature to take its course. Thanks for your website.

This is quite a bit of information that you wrote about here.......great job with this lens. In just a few days, i'll be graduating with my nursing degree......reading this lens served to make me that much more knowledgable in this area :)

AUTHOR

Kay

11 years ago

Janelle, keep in mind, after a gestational sac is seen, hCG levels really don't tell you much. They start slowing quite a bit at that point and will soon start declining. This is normal. Just watch for signs of infection and be seen if there are any problems. Otherwise, many doctors agree that waiting is perfectly acceptable. Feel free to message me at any time if you just need somebody who will listen :)

anonymous

11 years ago

Hi kay, I love this post. I came across it while looking for information on blighted ovum, which my ob thinks I have ( I don't think so...). I too have a tilted uterus and beginning my 8 gestational week of pregnancy. I had my first U/s done last week at 7 weeks, they saw a sac but no baby. I have had hcg test done every two day ever since and they are increasing slowly. I had another U/s done today with the same results as last week. I have all the pregnancy symptoms, no cramping, spotting or bleeding. She gave me the option to have a D&amp;C but I choose to wait. Right now I need support, we have been ttc for 3 years and it finally happen. Now to have her tell me that I can try again in 2 months is heartbreaking. But I am trying to keep the faith because deep down inside I know that my angel is there.

anonymous

11 years ago

I was wondering if you are counting weeks from the first day of the last menstruation or from conception? My last menstruation began on Jan. 23rd. Counting from then I should be about 10 weeks and 4 days. I went for an ultrasound today and they could not find a heartbeat but they said there was a nice gestational sac and I looked to be about 6 weeks 2 days. I as far as I could understand after asking over and over, I think they were counting gestational weeks. They told me to go get another ultra sound at a different place two days later to see if the sac or uterus had grown. Would there really be a noticeable difference in two days? My breasts are still sore and there has been no bleeding but I am not gaining very much weight. Is there hope that I do not have a blighted ovum?Thank you

AUTHOR

Kay

11 years ago

Natalie, you should definitely have an ultrasound a week out. You can see if the sac is still growing and if there is still hope. The vast majority of women who find their babies late find them by nine weeks although we have some amazing stories of women finding them later (but that is not as common). I hope you get better news.

anonymous

11 years ago

So I was supposedly pregnant with my third child. LMP 1/24 and conceived on 2/8 which would make me 7 weeks 5 days. HCG yesterday was 24,000 and ultrasound showed no baby. My doctor says I have a blighted ovum, and that I can wait a week and have another ultrasound, but then should proceed with a d/c. I am so confused, after reading all these stories. I had a blighted ovum once before with a d/c and that time I lost all pregnancy symptoms. This time I still feel pregnant. So if I wait one more week I'll be almost 9 weeks, but technically I should wait till 10 weeks right? This is horrible. I'm just not sure what to do.

anonymous

11 years ago

I'm at the beginning of my 8 gestational week of pregnancy. I do have a tilted uterus, I have a daughter and I had a ruptured tubal pregnancy 6 months ago. Yesterday the doctor told me that the tech found only an empty sac and bleeding in my uterus. I've been cramping for 3 weeks and spotting, bleeding for a week and 2 days ago I passed a cloth. Since I passed that I'm not bleeding anymore. The doc recommends a D&amp;C., but is willing to give me a week to let nature take its course. Because of the bleeding I experienced, should I have the procedure or should I contact another high risk pregnancy doctor for another opinion?

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